ELECT
Marisa
Sterling
Professional Engineer, Fellow of Engineers Canada
Trustee, Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
Ward 10 — Beaches-East York & Scarborough Southwest
ELECT
Professional Engineer, Fellow of Engineers Canada
Trustee, Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
Ward 10 — Beaches-East York & Scarborough Southwest
Vote STERLING for STUDENT SUCCESS
People trust me to solve their hardest problems. For over nine years as a university Assistant Dean, I have worked with students who felt overlooked, and made sure they were seen, heard, and got the help they needed.
I am running to be your TDSB Trustee because the children and youth in Beaches-East York and Scarborough Southwest need a public school system that puts their achievement and wellbeing first.
This is not just another election, or business as usual for our public schools. This is a critical time for you to vote for TDSB trustee and help restore meaningful local representation to our public school system and deliver better results for students.
This October, find the last name on your ballot and vote STERLING — your 1st choice for student success.
Marisa has spent her career helping students succeed. As an Assistant Dean at University of Toronto and York University, along with a President of the Foundation for Education charity, Marisa has helped thousands of students access education and reach their potential. She has worked with elementary, middle and high schools to strengthen science, technology, robotics and the arts, along with human rights, mental wellness and mentorship. Marisa delivers real results by working in partnership with students, teachers, families, community organizations, businesses and governments — a proven track record of focusing on education and student success.
Marisa brings proven leadership and accountability. As the elected President and Chair of the Board of Professional Engineers Ontario, and a professional engineer herself, Marisa helped govern 90,000 engineers and oversee a $32-million budget. She has also chaired the Finance, Audit, Risk and Governance committees and currently sits on the Board of Engineers Canada. She will bring that same accountability to the trustee role.
Marisa is an innovator and change agent. In every job Marisa has had, she's helped make the systems function better. She's a natural problem solver. At this time where the student and parent voice has been sidelined, Marisa will proactively find a way to amplify their needs.
Marisa understands public education and our community. Marisa was educated by TDSB schools, helped her family navigate school supports, and is a 26-year resident with longstanding roots in Scarborough Southwest and Beaches-East York.
Student Voice. Student Well-Being. Student Achievement.
You may be wondering why vote for your trustee? Since the province took over supervision of the TDSB over a year ago, currently trustees have no work phone, computer or staff support. With this provincial intervention, I believe the trustee role is more important now than ever to raise and advocate for the local voices and needs of students, families and educators in Ward 10. I'm ready to work with families, education partners, and all levels of government to build better local education for Ward 10 students.
Under the current provincial supervision, my priorities will be to:
Advocate
For a reformed school board that restores a local, accountable voice in school decisions.
I will fight provincial overreach and advocate to keep decisions local, with the goal of schools being centres of excellence.
Champion
A local engagement network to provide help for every child to improve their academic achievement.
With 55 schools and close to 25,000 students in the expanded and new Ward 10, I believe a strong, local network is needed — one that listens to students, educators, families, and community members, identifies gaps, and brings forward ideas and solutions to meet the needs of students. I will champion this WITH students, FOR students.
Fight
For smaller class sizes, stronger student supports, safer schools and sustainable funding.
I believe that decisions — on school staffing and resource allocations, school improvements and how provincial funding is used — need to be made with the input of the local community. And we need funding in Ward 10 for special education, new schools, air conditioning, and transportation, for example.
This role was meant to be a democratically elected trustee. So what exactly is happening under the current school system, and how is it hurting the needs and achievements of our children and youth?
Teachers, principals and parents are more overburdened with issues beyond the classroom. Since June 2025, when the province placed the Toronto District School Board under provincial supervision and removed the official role of trustee, much of the work to find students the help and resources they need rests almost entirely on the shoulders of school staff and families. TDSB trustees who would have helped resource and resolve those concerns have instead been sidelined, without work phones, emails, computers or staff to support this work.
The school system will at best maintain itself, rather than innovate or evolve with the needs of our kids and communities. There has been no progress, for example, on the expansion of Courcelette School or the rebuild of Secord Public School to serve the current needs of local families.
Every resident of Beaches-East York and Scarborough Southwest who is a Canadian citizen and over 18 years of age can vote in one school board election, which is by default English public (where Marisa is running).
Find your voting location on MyVote
ADVANCE POLLS
October 6 – 11
10 am – 7 pm daily
Vote early, then spend election day reminding your friends, family and neighbours to make their voices heard too.
ELECTION DAY
Monday, October 26
10 am – 8 pm
Look for Marisa Sterling under Toronto District School Board, Ward 10. Marisa is the last name on the ballot.
A sign on your street tells every voter that walks past that you believe Marisa is your 1st choice for student success.
Request a lawn sign
Knock on doors with a canvassing team, host an event, help with data entry, or lend a hand on election day. High school students can collect volunteer hours. Fill out the form and we'll match you to an opportunity.
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